Nah. to Moon as he tries to sneak into the studio. In an interview with Guitar World magazine, he recalled that the drummer "taught me how to break things. [151], By September 1978 Moon was having difficulty playing the drums, according to roadie Dave "Cy" Langston. "[103], The drummer immediately began drinking upon his arrival in Flint. [88] "[We] went through the same stages everybody goes through the bloody drug corridor", he later reflected. var oneSignalLinkClickHandler = function(event) { OneSignal.push(['registerForPushNotifications']); event.preventDefault(); }; for(var i = 0; i < oneSignal_elements.length; i++) No one. "[134] Moon would harass them with phone calls, and on one occasion before Kim sued for divorce, he invited McLagan for a drink at a Richmond pub and sent several "heavies" to break into McLagan's home on Fife Road and look for Kim, forcing her to hide in a walk-in closet. Keith was innovative, always playing the unexpected, wrote Blondies Clem Burke in the foreword to 2016s authorized A Tribute To Keith Moon: There Is No Substitute. oneSignal_options['notifyButton']['enable'] = true; [82] Moon's last film appearance was in 1978's Sextette.[83]. There are so many great riffs and fills that are inspiring just check out something like Young Man Blues from Live At Leeds. He was discovered by manager Bill Curbishley, who took him to a hospital, telling him "I'm gonna get the doctor to get you nice and fit, so you're back within two days. if (document.readyState === 'complete') { [42] The drummer's interest in surf music and his desire to sing led to his performing lead vocals on several early tracks, including "Bucket T" and "Barbara Ann" (Ready Steady Who EP, 1966)[43] and high backing vocals on other songs, such as "Pictures of Lily". "[140] In 1974, Moon struck up a friendship with actor Oliver Reed while working on the film version of Tommy. D.J. [121] The incorrect date had been supplied by Moon in interviews before it was corrected by Fletcher to 1946. I think the word I would use to describe Keiths drumming is free rather than anarchic, wrote Townshend in the introduction to There Is No Substitute. In April 1964, aged 17,[22] he auditioned for the Who as a replacement for Doug Sandom. Whereas Ginger Baker is a cranky old man whose last notable work occurred 50 years ago. "[181], Clem Burke of Blondie has said "Early on all I cared about was Keith Moon and the Who. [96] David Puttnam recalled, "The drinking went from being a joke to being a problem. Ive no real aspirations to be a great drummer, he said. [95] Around the same time he became a severe alcoholic, starting the day with drinks and changing from the "lovable boozer" he presented himself as to a "boorish drunk". During the 1973 Quadrophenia tour, at the Who's debut US date at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, Moon ingested a mixture of tranquillisers and brandy. "[76] During one of his few televised solo drum performances (for ABC's Wide World), Moon played a five-minute drum solo dressed as a cat on transparent acrylic drums filled with water and goldfish. Keith John Moon (23 August 1946 - 7 September 1978) was an English drummer for the rock band the Who. In 1966 he worked with Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck, pianist Nicky Hopkins and future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones on the instrumental "Beck's Bolero", which was the B-side to "Hi Ho Silver Lining" and appeared on the album Truth. Theres only one of him. [157], Townshend persuaded Daltrey and Entwistle to carry on touring as The Who, although he later said that it was his means of coping with Moon's death and "completely irrational, bordering on insane". I suppose as a drummer, I'm adequate. }); When Walter-Lax checked on him the following afternoon, she discovered he was dead. [79] Moon's next film role was J.D. "[168], Moon's drumming has been praised by critics. Bill Curbishley remembered that "he wouldn't walk into any room and just listen. Music has always been part of my life, helped me through tough moments and was with me to celebrate the good ones. keith moon. [137] Moon later became friends with Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band members Vivian Stanshall and "Legs" Larry Smith, and the trio would drink and play practical jokes together. He was the so-called mod who loved surf music and daft humor. Paul McCartney's opinion on Keith Moon During the finale of "My Generation", an altercation broke out on stage between Moon and Townshend which was reported on the front page of the New Musical Express the following week. oneSignal_options['subdomainName'] = "https://rockgarage.os.tc"; [19] In December 1962 he joined the Beachcombers, a semi-professional London cover band playing hits by groups such as the Shadows. Its like the Who. He watched a film (The Abominable Dr. Phibes), and asked Walter-Lax to cook him steak and eggs. When I became a journalist I knew I wanted to write about my passions. They gave him a shower and an injection of cortisone, sending him back onstage after a thirty-minute delay. "People will be talking about Keith Moon 'til they die, man. One of Moons final appearances on camera was in The Whos video for the title hit from his last album with them, Who Are You. [23], A commonly cited story of how Moon joined the Who is that he appeared at a show shortly after Sandom's departure, where a session drummer was used. [109], During the opening date of the band's March 1976 US tour at the Boston Garden, Moon passed out over his drum kit after two numbers and the show was rescheduled. One of the secrets to Moon's playing is that he was playing the melody and the guitar parts. He was a very charming bloke, a lovely guy, really, but quite But he could be a difficult guy, really. But Moon was the. [50], The drummer produced the violin solo on "Baba O'Riley". The Who drummer played by his own rulebook and the impact he had on drumming is immeasurable thanks to Moon accidentally shoeing in a completely new way of playing the instrument. var oneSignal_elements = document.getElementsByClassName("OneSignal-prompt"); [150] The pills were prescribed by Geoffrey Dymond, a physician who was unaware of Moon's lifestyle. The kit was eventually fitted with copper fittings[58] and later given to a young Zak Starkey. Moon was recognised for his drumming style, which emphasised tom-toms, cymbal crashes, and drum fills. However, stands and foot pedals were frequently replaced; the drummer "would go through them like a knife through butter". The Jam's single was released about a month after Moon's death. [39] While the other three members handled most of the onstage vocals, Moon would attempt to sing backup (particularly on "I Can't Explain"). [53] In recognition of his loyalty to the company, Premier reissued the kit in 2006 as the "Spirit of Lily". gtag('js', new Date()); I think a lot of my lunacy is because I want to do some film work. Keith John Moon was an English drummer who played with the English rock band the Who. At the end of the song, the drums go nuts. "[29] These antics earned him the nickname "Moon the Loon".[30]. Keith Moon: 1947-1978. The greatest thing, I suppose, is the combination of the four of us. Moon filled in for Peel in 1973's "A Touch of the Moon", a series of four programmes produced by John Walters. Particularly impressive is his work during the Ivor The Engine Driver portion of the song. 1 on its list of "50 Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Drummers",[171] and he was ranked No. The rest of the Who struggled on through See Me Feel Me, with Townshend and bassist John Entwistle trying to fill in where the drums should be; . "[101], Once, a hotel manager called Moon in his room and asked him to lower the volume on his cassette recorder because it made "too much noise." "Keith Moon, there was a character. Pete has got his writing, John has got his writing and producing, and Roger has got his farm. [98] Townshend remembers walking into the bathroom of Moon's hotel room and noticing the toilet had disappeared, with only the S-bend remaining. Rainbow. What Happened The Night an Audience Member Filled In for Keith Moon [8] He was interested in practical jokes and home science kits, with a particular fondness for explosions. Another huge admirer among his peers was Led Zeppelins John Bonham, who would always watch Moon as closely and as often as he could. Former Who drummer Kenney Jones picks 10 outstanding moments from the career of his predecessor, Keith Moon. Pete Townshend and Keith they were fantastically mad, the pair of them, onstage. With Moon on form like that, its a mystery how the interviewer managed to gage him enough to provoke a profound answer about the drummers he admires but somehow they pulled it off. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thats what I mean. The Legendary Drummer Who Killed His Bodyguard - Medium A lot of guys, I dont think, would have liked playing with him. He was a drummer who always strived to make his performance exceptional. "[26] Moon later claimed that he was never formally invited to join the Who permanently; when Ringo Starr asked how he had joined the band, he said he had "just been filling in for the last fifteen years. He proved that there was another way of doing things, Moon was unconventional on-stage and even more atypical once he stepped foot off it. Lets face it, he must have been cos he had a sense of rhythm. He left school around Easter 1961, at age 14. And it was this version of Keith Moon that led to his untimely death on September 7 1978. Loved him. "The general perception of Keith Moon as a drummer is that he was chaotic, sloppy, but it was anything but," said the frontman. } There simply was no one like Keith, and that holds true to this day. In 1972 the performance was released as a companion disc to Lennon and Ono's album Some Time in New York City. For The Who, Keith Moon was the best drummer, but he never was heard to play in any other band or genre of music, so who knows whether he was technically versatile. This was one of the earliest songs to really show what Moon was capable of. He began to endorse Premier Drums in late 1965 and remained a loyal customer of the company. OneSignal.showSlidedownPrompt(); }); oneSignal_options['notifyButton']['size'] = 'medium'; [145], Those close to Moon said that he was haunted by Boland's death for the rest of his life. During much of 1964 and 1965 his setups consisted of Ludwig drums and Zildjian cymbals. When she objected, Moon replied, "If you don't like it, you can fuck off!" [60] Subsequent live sets culminated in what the band later described as "auto-destructive art", in which band members (particularly Moon and Townshend) elaborately destroyed their equipment. [16] Moon idolised the Beach Boys;[17] Roger Daltrey later said that given the opportunity, Moon would have left to play for the California band even at the peak of the Who's fame. I figured that was it. [105] However, Roger Daltrey, in an interview on BBC's Top Gear, stated that the group was banned from 'an entire state's worth of Holiday Inns', presumably then Michigan. Although that supergroup was never formed, Page remembered the phrase and later adapted it as the name of his new band. "A lot of guys, . MTB: 0021377/MG, Photos from Rolling Stones and Keith Moon's Instagram, Lars Ulrich explains Metallicas No Repeat Weekend shows, Keith Richards performs with Willie Nelson for his 90th birthday, Trailer for new Syd Barrett documentary is released, Dave Mustaine talks about his religious mother during childhood, What was Kurt Cobains opinion on Ozzy Osbourne. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Now you gonna get latest important news'; S. 10 year old daughter . "[152], On 6 September, Moon and Walter-Lax were guests of Paul and Linda McCartney at a preview of a film, The Buddy Holly Story. Sandom had generally been the peacemaker as Daltrey and Townshend feuded between themselves, but because of Moon's temperament the group now had four members frequently in conflict. This later carried over to other aspects of his life, as he acted them out (according to journalist and Who biographer Dave Marsh) "as if his life were one long tour. [136], Moon enjoyed being the life of the party. Filmed at their Ramport Studios in Battersea, London, for the movie The Kids Are Alright, its a wonderful last glimpse, capturing his playful spirit and some heart-warming horseplay with Pete, Rog, and John Entwistle, as Moon thunders through his magnificent drum parts with his wayward headphones clamped to his head with duct tape. Loved him. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); About Us Contributors Terms of Service Privacy Policy 2023 uDiscover Music, The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again (Shepperton Studios / 1978), Justin Hayward To Return As Host Of On The Blue Cruise 2024, Featuring Fellow Classic Rock Greats, Watch New Lyric Video For Dire Straits Brothers In Arms Hit Walk Of Life, Moody Blues Deluxe To Our Childrens Childrens Children Adds Albert Hall Show, Mixed Emotions: The Rolling Stones Set Wheels In Motion Again, All Those Years Ago: George Harrison Recorded Somewhere In England, Psychedelic Blues: When The Blues Turned On And Tuned In, 702, Tame Impala, And Brick & Lace: Currently Trending Songs, Best Iggy Pop Songs: 20 Tracks With An Insatiable Lust For Life, Fancy: Behind Bobbie Gentrys Womens Lib Statement. Way to young Keith. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} } But I can imagine he must have taken the piss out of me something terrible! [100][184], Anatomy of a Drum Solo DVD, Neil Peart (2005) accompanying booklet. "[36] On 23 June 1977, he made a guest appearance at a Led Zeppelin concert in Los Angeles. [141] Although Reed matched Moon drink for drink, he appeared on set the next morning ready to perform; Moon, on the other hand, would cost several hours of filming time. It was suggested that Moon's drumming was a manifestation of his personality, not of drum technique. (Learning the drums was her idea). [48] Moon also co-composed "The Ox" (an instrumental from their debut album, My Generation) with Townshend, Entwistle and keyboardist Nicky Hopkins. Best Keith Moon Performances: 20 Kit-Shattering Drum Highlights This erroneous date appeared in several otherwise-reliable sources, including the Townshend-authorised biography Before I Get Old: The Story of The Who. Because I want to break your fucking jaw You have fucked this band around so many times and I'm not having it any more. [149], After moving in, Moon began a prescribed course of Heminevrin (clomethiazole, a sedative) to alleviate his alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Dymond prescribed a bottle of 100 pills, instructing him to take one pill when he felt a craving for alcohol but not more than three pills per day. [72] Rolling Stone's John Hoegel appreciated Entwistle's decision not to let Moon drum, saying that it distanced his album from the familiar sound of the Who. "He had no idea how to be a father", Kim said. It's true the Who - in fact, rock n' roll as we know it - wouldn't be the same without him. He played with every instrument playing on stage, and he managed to make it work, Daltrey continued. Keith John Moon was born to Alfred Charles (Alf) and Kathleen Winifred (Kit) Moon[2][5] on 23 August 1946 at Central Middlesex Hospital in northwest London; he grew up in Wembley. "[78], Early in the Who's career, Moon got to know the Beatles. Not only does he give it a killer intro, he also does a great job playing the character of Ace-Face, a former legend who is now stuck working as the titular bell boy at a hotel. window.addEventListener("load", function(event){ : Clem Burke Talks About Eurythmics To Modern Drummer", "The Who's Keith Moon to be honoured with 'blue plaque', "Keith Moon's Love/Hate Relationship With His Drum Set", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Keith_Moon&oldid=1152651823, This page was last edited on 1 May 2023, at 14:26. As the drummer for The Who, he was an unstoppable. [113] By the time of the Who's invitation-only show at the Gaumont State Cinema on 15 December 1977 for The Kids are Alright, Moon was visibly overweight and had difficulty sustaining a solid performance. Ivor, the man who our protagonist sleeps with, is supposed to be a highly shady character, and Moons drumming provides a suitably creepy vibe to the scenario. And to think he was originally going to play the bugle. After the pair socialised for a few days, Moon and Entwistle brought Johnston to the set of Ready Steady Go!,[63] which made them late for a show with the Who that evening. Moons drumming had already proven essential before Happy Jack, but this was the moment we learned he could be the main force behind a track. I dont have any drumming idols I know a few idle drummers., Moon did make one solo album, 1975s Two Sides Of The Moon, but other ambitions remained unfulfilled. [77], In the 2007 documentary film Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who, Daltrey and Townshend reminisced about Moon's talent for dressing as (and embodying) a variety of characters. Afterwards I was sitting at the bar and Pete came over. Keith Moon - Wikipedia [21] The Beachcombers all had day jobs; Moon, who worked in the sales department at British Gypsum, had the keenest interest in turning professional. He said: 'You'll have to give up work there's this gig on Monday. In response the drummer asked him up to his room, excused himself to go to the bathroom, put a lit stick of dynamite in the toilet and shut the bathroom door. After seeing Moon in the studio trying to overdub drums for The Kids Are Alright, he said, "After two or three hours, he got more and more sluggish, he could barely hold a drum stick. When Haynes said that it would be prohibitively expensive, Moon replied: "Dear boy, do exactly as you feel it should be, but that's the way I want it." [146], In mid-1978, Moon moved into Flat 12, 9 Curzon Place (later Curzon Square), Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London, renting from Harry Nilsson. [18], During this time Moon joined his first serious band: the Escorts, replacing his best friend Gerry Evans. As McCartney recalled in an interview with Record Collector Magazine back in 1997, Moon even praised his drum skills once. [28] Although Townshend described him as a "completely different person to anyone I've ever met",[24]:38:48 the pair had a rapport in the early years and enjoyed practical jokes and improvised comedy. window.OneSignal = window.OneSignal || [];
